Helpful tips on creating your own composition
by Pam Wedgwood
by Pam Wedgwood
I am often asked, “How do you compose”?
The answer is quite simple - “I don’t really know!” |
I have always had the natural ability to create a tune from a very early age. My first big piece was for the school band - on reflection it sounded like very bad Handel. I was into Baroque music at that time and it influenced my writing without realising it!! Listen to what you love
Different styles of music will always influence your composition. Make a habit of listening to as much music as possible; it’s definitely one of the best ways of getting inspiration.
Everyone is capable of creating his or her own special piece of music, by following a simple starter recipe you will arrive at your own creation! |
Before you begin think of your piece like a car journey!
It’s always nice to know where you’re going to end up before you start driving. Sometimes you’ll just get in your car and drive around but most of the time we have a place in mind that we would like to arrive at.
The same goes for music composition. Don’t be afraid to write something you have heard before, if it helps you to get going. There is nothing wrong with borrowing a few notes from something else you have heard, as long as you are not selling your work! |
Essentials when starting the journey:
A good understanding of keys is a good beginning. In fact don’t worry about making your recipe too complicated, stick to basic keys that you are familiar with and comfortable using. Be sure that you understand how the chords are formed from these keys and know how the inversions work.
Obviously if you are already an accomplished musician your knowledge of keys will be a great foundation to creating a more interesting journey! Start making a plan!
What mood is your composition going to be in?
Sad, happy, dramatic, a story? Whatever mood you have decided on you might like to start thinking about a title. I often start with this as it gives you a great springboard for the direction and style of the piece. Write down a list of titles that grab your imagination. Once you have your title then think of the road map. I sometimes think about the ending before the start. That sounds odd but sometimes it really works! Writing the melody
Does this happen first? For me, not necessarily. I sometimes think of a bass line first then develop the melody around it, but mostly it’s melody first as this is the most important and memorable part of a composition.
Tiny melodies: Don’t be too ambitious about the length of the melody. It could be any number of notes! Simple is good! Think in shapes: Where is your melody going? Are you planning to have a key change? Maybe you are not planning this but it might just happen! Sing: Always try and sing along with your melody, your voice may lead you on to something better than you started out with! |
Suggestion
Suggestion
Think about these for your road map:
Suggestion
Sometimes it’s a good idea to fiddle about on the piano until something happens. This will improve the more you practice! Some of my pieces have arrived exactly like that, just improvising with anything that comes to me at that point!
Don't be afraid of experimenting with groovy chords. If you like the way it sounds, use it, even if you don’t really understand what it is! Some of the pieces I have written have come from pure accidents, just letting my fingers wander over the keys finding notes that I didn’t expect. |
Write something every day
Just like an athlete lifting weights to become stronger and perform better, we must write consistently to practice the art. The more you write the more confident you will become.
After a while you will be able to develop your own style and put your own stamp on it. This doesn’t mean we have to write an entirely new piece every day, but you should at least practice composing a section of music or developing a motif.
After a while you will be able to develop your own style and put your own stamp on it. This doesn’t mean we have to write an entirely new piece every day, but you should at least practice composing a section of music or developing a motif.
Whatever you write just remember one positive thing;
No one on this planet has ever written the same pattern of notes!!
Quite a thought, so whatever you come up with it’s totally yours!!
No one on this planet has ever written the same pattern of notes!!
Quite a thought, so whatever you come up with it’s totally yours!!
Happy composing - Pam Wedgwood